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Iceland's Whaling Boats Resume Hunt

Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Yarmouth Port, MA

Iceland's whaling boats have left port to begin this season's hunt. Although
there has been no official announcement from the Icelandic government, the quota
is believed to be 39 -- its highest since resuming whaling in 2003.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) had earlier urged the
Icelandic government to reject this quota, recommended by Iceland's Marine
Research Institute several weeks ago, and call an end to so-called scientific
whaling.

A joint statement by the British, French and German governments in May also
strongly criticized the MRI's proposals for 39 minke whales to be taken. Since August 2003, 62 minke whales have been killed in Iceland's coastal
waters in the name of science. Consumers, however, have shown little interest in
buying whale meat which has been put on the market.

A recent independent report, commissioned by IFAW to examine the market for
whale meat, found very poor demand for the product in Iceland, together with
restrictions on selling it abroad, meant Iceland's whaling was uneconomic. Much
of the meat from whales hunted in Iceland in the last two years remains unsold
in freezers.

IFAW marine campaigner Ellie Dickson said: "We are very disappointed that the
Icelandic government has decided after all to go ahead with scientific whaling
this year, despite widespread opposition. Our economic report shows that there
is no future for whaling in Iceland. We also believe that whaling is extremely
cruel -- there really is no humane way to kill a whale."

IFAW is also concerned by proposals to take a further 100 whales next
year. At last month's annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission in
Ulsan, Korea, members rejected proposals by pro- whaling nations for a return to
commercial whaling.

IFAW encourages responsible whale watching around the world as an alternative
to whaling and helped set up Iceland's successful whale watching industry, which
attracted more than 80,000 tourists last year.